Do We Have To Board the Ship In Barcelona?

[Calgary3]

My husband and I are contemplating the 2009 Voyager of the Seas Transatlantic crossing out of Barcelona on Sunday, November 29th.

 

Prior to the cruise we will be holidaying in Cartagena which is the first scheduled port stop after Barcelona. The ship will arrive there on Monday, November 30th.

 

Do you think we would be able to board the ship in Cartagena rather than travelling to Barcelona?

 

Thanks for your help.

[PrincesScuba]

My husband and I are contemplating the 2009 Voyager of the Seas Transatlantic crossing out of Barcelona on Sunday, November 29th.

 

Prior to the cruise we will be holidaying in Cartagena which is the first scheduled port stop after Barcelona. The ship will arrive there on Monday, November 30th.

 

Do you think we would be able to board the ship in Cartagena rather than travelling to Barcelona?

 

Thanks for your help.

 

Royal Caribbean has a department that deals with this matter.

 

Their phone number is somewhere on their website. I'll try to find it for you.

 

Info:

Please direct any requests and/or questions to the following e-mail address or fax number:

Fax Number: (305) 373-6695

E-mail: AirSeaGFO@RCCL.com

 

Webpage says:

 

Q: Can I take a partial cruise?

A: Yes! Partial cruises allow you to enjoy part of your cruise vacation in the event that you are unable to meet the ship in the scheduled boarding port, or would like to end your cruise earlier than the scheduled departure date.

 

Requests for security clearance concerning late boarding or early departure must be submitted in writing to the Guest Flight Operations office for consideration at least one week prior to sail date. Guests must have a confirmed reservation in order to receive clearance. If the reservation was made by a travel agency, the agency must submit the request on travel agency letterhead. Guests with reservations made directly through Royal Caribbean International or royalcaribbean.com can submit their own request. Please include a return fax number or e-mail address.

 

If guests are pre-approved for boarding/departure in an alternate port of call, the ship's security staff is notified to expect the guests at the designated port. The approved guests are responsible for making all travel arrangements and will incur any additional expenses (for flights, hotels, transfers to the pier, etc.). Prepaid gratuities will be added to all approved reservations for the length of cruise.

 

Restrictions: Certain countries, such as the U.S., Italy and Norway, have cabotage laws affecting passenger movements. These laws restrict foreign flag passenger vessels (such as those operated by Royal Caribbean) from transporting guests from one port to another port in the same country. In the U.S., the cabotage law applicable to the cruise industry is commonly called the Jones Act but is legally titled the Passengers Services Act. A brief summary of this U.S. law follows:

 

If a passenger (as listed on a vessel passenger manifest) embarks in a U.S. port and the vessel calls in a nearby foreign port (such as Ensenada, Grand Cayman and Nassau) and then returns to the U.S., the person must disembark in the same U.S. port. A passenger who embarks and disembarks in two different U.S. ports (such as Los Angeles and San Diego) would result in the carrier (not the violator) being fined. The vessel must call in a distant foreign port before the U.S. embarkation and disembarkation ports can differ. The nearest distant foreign ports are in or off the coast of South America. If either the passenger's embarkation port or disembarkation port is in a foreign country, then the provisions of this cabotage law do not apply. Nor do they apply in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

 

Similar passenger movement restrictions exist for cruise vessels calling in Italy and Norway.

[Annieeee]

My husband and I are contemplating the 2009 Voyager of the Seas Transatlantic crossing out of Barcelona on Sunday, November 29th.

 

Prior to the cruise we will be holidaying in Cartagena which is the first scheduled port stop after Barcelona. The ship will arrive there on Monday, November 30th.

 

Do you think we would be able to board the ship in Cartagena rather than travelling to Barcelona?

 

Thanks for your help.

 

You can call RCI and see you can downline. It is possible that you will be allowed to do it. Same as if you missed the ship, you would probably be able to board in Cartagena, but best if you check with the line.

 

Annieeee

[Calgary3]

I will submit my question tomorrow at the fax and email numbers you gave me. :)

 

Royal Caribbean has a department that deals with this matter.

 

Their phone number is somewhere on their website. I'll try to find it for you.

 

Info:

 

Please direct any requests and/or questions to the following e-mail address or fax number:

Fax Number: (305) 373-6695

E-mail: AirSeaGFO@RCCL.com

 

Webpage says:

 

Q: Can I take a partial cruise?

A: Yes! Partial cruises allow you to enjoy part of your cruise vacation in the event that you are unable to meet the ship in the scheduled boarding port, or would like to end your cruise earlier than the scheduled departure date.

 

Requests for security clearance concerning late boarding or early departure must be submitted in writing to the Guest Flight Operations office for consideration at least one week prior to sail date. Guests must have a confirmed reservation in order to receive clearance. If the reservation was made by a travel agency, the agency must submit the request on travel agency letterhead. Guests with reservations made directly through Royal Caribbean International or royalcaribbean.com can submit their own request. Please include a return fax number or e-mail address.

 

If guests are pre-approved for boarding/departure in an alternate port of call, the ship's security staff is notified to expect the guests at the designated port. The approved guests are responsible for making all travel arrangements and will incur any additional expenses (for flights, hotels, transfers to the pier, etc.). Prepaid gratuities will be added to all approved reservations for the length of cruise.

 

Restrictions: Certain countries, such as the U.S., Italy and Norway, have cabotage laws affecting passenger movements. These laws restrict foreign flag passenger vessels (such as those operated by Royal Caribbean) from transporting guests from one port to another port in the same country. In the U.S., the cabotage law applicable to the cruise industry is commonly called the Jones Act but is legally titled the Passengers Services Act. A brief summary of this U.S. law follows:

 

If a passenger (as listed on a vessel passenger manifest) embarks in a U.S. port and the vessel calls in a nearby foreign port (such as Ensenada, Grand Cayman and Nassau) and then returns to the U.S., the person must disembark in the same U.S. port. A passenger who embarks and disembarks in two different U.S. ports (such as Los Angeles and San Diego) would result in the carrier (not the violator) being fined. The vessel must call in a distant foreign port before the U.S. embarkation and disembarkation ports can differ. The nearest distant foreign ports are in or off the coast of South America. If either the passenger's embarkation port or disembarkation port is in a foreign country, then the provisions of this cabotage law do not apply. Nor do they apply in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

 

Similar passenger movement restrictions exist for cruise vessels calling in Italy and Norway.

[Calgary3]

Is the term downline what I need to use? Does it mean boarding further down the line than the original embarkation port?

 

You can call RCI and see you can downline. It is possible that you will be allowed to do it. Same as if you missed the ship, you would probably be able to board in Cartagena, but best if you check with the line.

 

Annieeee

[Sue L]

All you have to tell them is you want to board in Cartagena

 

 

and you need to submit this form

 

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/content/pdf/Partial_Cruise_Request.pdf

[Annieeee]

Is the term downline what I need to use? Does it mean boarding further down the line than the original embarkation port?

 

Yes that is the term for boarding at a subsequent port of call. You can say you want to downline, or you can just say you want to be able to board in Cartagena, due to time restrictions or whatever the reason may be. They can say yes or no. But no harm in asking. And it is better to call them directly and ask them rather than going by what someone might tell you on this board. Not that they will mislead you, but I think it is better to ask Royal Caribbean rather than take somene's word. This way no one can be blamed for giving out incorrect information, even though they sincerely want to help you.

 

Annieeee

[Sue L]

Yes that is the term for boarding at a subsequent port of call. You can say you want to downline, or you can just say you want to be able to board in Cartagena, due to time restrictions or whatever the reason may be. They can say yes or no. But no harm in asking. And it is better to call them directly and ask them rather than going by what someone might tell you on this board. Not that they will mislead you, but I think it is better to ask Royal Caribbean rather than take somene's word. This way no one can be blamed for giving out incorrect information, even though they sincerely want to help you.

 

Annieeee

 

 

the above process that PrinceScuba put and the link to the form I posted are right off the RCCL website, so very correct info.

[kauppias]

it usually isnt a problem in europe... i have done it and its very easy plus no muster drill ;) however keep in mind that if the ship for whatever reason cannot dock in the port your planning to downline from you will hae to make arrangements to get to the next port so I would make sure I have travel insurance beacuase stuff can and will some times happen :) just from my personal expeiernce

[critterchick]

Remember that you will have to pay the full cruise fare. That wasn't mentioned in the excerpt.:)

[PrincesScuba]

Remember that you will have to pay the full cruise fare. That wasn't mentioned in the excerpt.:)

 

This is a fascinating sentence that I didn't notice when I was cutting and pasting:

 

"Prepaid gratuities will be added to all approved reservations for the length of cruise."

[Calgary3]

I sure didn't think about what would happen if the ship couldn't dock in Cartagena... Will have to rethink this very carefully. Barcelona is sounding like the way to go.

 

Thank you all for your valuable input. This is why I appreciate being a member of Cruise Critic.

 

Betty

[scottie99]

it usually isnt a problem in europe... i have done it and its very easy plus no muster drill ;) however keep in mind that if the ship for whatever reason cannot dock in the port your planning to downline from you will hae to make arrangements to get to the next port so I would make sure I have travel insurance beacuase stuff can and will some times happen :) just from my personal expeiernce

 

I know it is not quite the same as the Med, but on our Baltic cruise on the Jewel in June this year, we missed our first port at Copenhagen because the (female) acting Captain decided in was too dangerous to dock.

[scottie99]

it usually isnt a problem in europe... i have done it and its very easy plus no muster drill ;) however keep in mind that if the ship for whatever reason cannot dock in the port your planning to downline from you will hae to make arrangements to get to the next port so I would make sure I have travel insurance beacuase stuff can and will some times happen :) just from my personal expeiernce

 

I know it is not quite the same as the Med, but on our Baltic cruise on the Jewel in June this year, we missed our first port at Copenhagen because the (female) acting Captain decided in was too dangerous to dock.

[phoenix1181]

I know it is not quite the same as the Med, but on our Baltic cruise on the Jewel in June this year, we missed our first port at Copenhagen because the (female) acting Captain decided in was too dangerous to dock.

 

I probably shouldn't ask but.................... Why did you feel it was necessary to identify that the acting Captain was female?

[uksimonusa]

I know it is not quite the same as the Med, but on our Baltic cruise on the Jewel in June this year, we missed our first port at Copenhagen because the (female) acting Captain decided in was too dangerous to dock.

 

What is an acting captain, she was either master of the ship or not??

[scottie99]

I probably shouldn't ask but.................... Why did you feel it was necessary to identify that the acting Captain was female?

 

I suppose I identified the Captain as female because, as I posted my reply I was reminded of all the jokes on board at the time about female drivers..... and yes she was referred to as Captain.

[sandravb79]

I suppose I identified the Captain as female because, as I posted my reply I was reminded of all the jokes on board at the time about female drivers..... and yes she was referred to as Captain.

 

:mad:

MCP

:mad:

[scottie99]

:mad:

MCP

:mad:

 

Its a bit of fun. If I offended any females out there , I am sorry!

[Albert Ross]

Please remember that in the Med in the summer there is a very strong wind called the Mistral and this can prevent the ship docking in ports. I heard that Voyager has missed out on either Villefranche or Marseilles (can't remember which one) a few times this season because of the winds. So if she doesn't make it into Cartagena then you have to skip to the next port....

[Got2Cruise]

Please remember that in the Med in the summer there is a very strong wind called the Mistral and this can prevent the ship docking in ports. I heard that Voyager has missed out on either Villefranche or Marseilles (can't remember which one) a few times this season because of the winds. So if she doesn't make it into Cartagena then you have to skip to the next port....

On our VOS cruise we missed Marseilles on July18. The first part of the cruise the sea was as smooth as glass and then all of a sudden these waves and wind started. The Captain, who was a male, btw,:rolleyes:, announced for safety issues he was not going to dock in Marseilles. We each received $6.45 port tax refund. Some pax had plans to disembark at Marseilles and fly to Paris, their plans were totally wrecked. Besides losing the airfare and hotel to Paris, they had no way to get home from Barcelona, the next and last port.